Package

ABSTRACT

A hollow egg-shaped container for an article, formed of two parts fitted together along a seam about the widest diameter of the container, is disposed partially within a cylinder so that the seam is surrounded by the cylinder. One end of the cylinder is spun inwardly so as to engage the container and prevent removal of the container from that end. The other end of the cylinder is also spun inwardly and a circular disc is disposed between the container and the spun end to hold the container in place and to prevent removal of the container from that end of the cylinder. The cylinder has a circumferential perforated seam so that the cylinder may easily be broken to remove the container and allow access to the article contained therein.

United States Patent 1191 Kappler et al. I

[ June 26, 1973 PACKAGE [75] Inventors: Hermann Kappler, Statesville;

Robert A. Wellons, Jr., Charlotte, both of NC.

[73] Assignee: Niemand Industries,Inc.,Statesville,

22 Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 211 App]. No.: 119,733

[52] US. Cl....... 206/46 AP, 206/DIG. 35, 220/4 E, 220/D1G. 13, 229/14R, 229/8, 229/51 S [51] Int. Cl. B65d 85/18 [58] Field of Search 220/4R, 4 E, DIG. l3; 206/1 R, 44 R, 46 P, 46 R, 46 FR, DIG. 35;

229/8, 51 R, 51 S, 51 TS, 5, 6, 89-93; 211/14; 248/126, 152,309-311;D9/205, 222; 215/12 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,921,015 8/1933 Young 220/4 R 2,314,338 3/1943 Graves et al..... 229/51S 3,292,840 12/1966 Schmidt 229/8 2,859,085 4/1958 Morrison 215/12 R2,525,958 10/1950 Seager et al. 215/12 R 2,102,886 12/1937 Conner 206/46FR Primary ExaminerJoseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen MarcusAtt0rneyl(ane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz [57] ABSTRACT Ahollow egg-shaped container for an article, formed of two parts fittedtogether along a seam about the widest diameter of the container, isdisposed partially within a cylinder so that the seam is surrounded bythe 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l.Field of the Invention This invention relates to packages and moreparticularly to a package that is shaped like an egg and is partiallycontained within a cylinder that cannot be opened without leaving avisible indication that it has been opened.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, articles have been packagedand sold in packages somewhat similar to the package of the presentinvention. The package comprised an egg-shaped container partiallydisposed within a cylinder. The eggshaped container had a certainconsumer appeal and proved to be a marketing success; however, thecylinder had a plastic snap-on cover on the bottom to facilitate removalof the container. The cover was removable with relative ease and as aresult excessive pilferage was encountered. People could quickly removethe cover and take the article and then replace the cover leaving anempty package on the shelf to be purchased by an unsuspecting customer.Thus, while the packages heretofore provided had a certain consumerappeal, they were conductive to pilferage resulting an undue theftlosses and a certain amount of customer dissatisfaction when an emptypackage was purchased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comtemplates anegg-shaped container formed of two parts fitted together along a seamabout the largest diameter of the container. The container is partiallydisposed within a cylinder so that the seam is surrounded by thecylinder. The cylinder has both ends spun inwardly so that one endengages the container adjacent the seam. A circular disc is disposedbetween the other spun end and the container to hold the container inplace and to prevent removal and opening of the container. Means such asperforations are provided to facilitate removal of one end of thecylinder so that the container may be removed and opened to gain accessto an article contained therein.

This novel package construction renders the package somewhat moredifficult to open than packages of the prior art and also leaves adefinite indication of tampering so that a customer will not purchase anempty package.

The primary objective of the present invention is to reduce pilferage ofarticles contained within the eggshaped type of package.

Another objective is to provide a package that leaves a definiteindication if it has been opened.

Another objective is to provide a package that cannot be closed once itis opened.

The foregoing objectives and advantages of the invention will appearmore fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed descriptionwhich follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein oneembodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is tobe expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrativepurposes only and are not tobe considered as defining the limits of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspectiveview of the package of the present invention showing how one end of thecylinder is removed to gain access to the eggshaped container.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical section of the package of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown ahollow egg-shaped container 10 for packaging an article 12 such aspantyhose. The container 10 is formed of two parts 14 and 16 snap fittedtogether about a seam 18. Scam 18 is formed by a male portion 20 formedon the edge of part 14, and a female portion 22 formed in the edge ofpart 16. The seam is preferably formed about the largest diameter of thecontainer but it is not necessary that the seam be formed about thisdiameter. Parts 14 and 16 are formed of a white plastic material havingthe color and appearance of a white egg.

Container 10 is disposed partially within a cylinder 24 so that adome-shaped top of egg-shaped container 10 extends beyond the cylinder.Cylinder 24 is preferably formed of spirally wrapped paper and having aninside diameter substantially equal to the widest diameter of thecontainer. The cylinder may be formed of any other suitable materialsuch as plastic or thin workable sheet metal. One end of cylinder 24 isspun inwardly to form an inwardly directed flange 26 about that end. Inone embodiment of the invention flange 26 engages container 10 about adiameter less than the widest diameter to prevent container 10 fromsliding past the flange. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the flange 26engages container 10 adjacent seam l8 and part 14 has a plurality ofoutwardly extending projections 28 for engaging flange 26 to assureretention of container 10 within cylinder 24. The other end of cylinder24 is also spun inwardly to form a flange 30. A circular disc 32,preferably constructed of thin cardboard, is disposed between flange 30and part 16 of container 10 for holding container 10 securely in placewithin cylinder 24 and for preventing the removal of container 10 fromthe cylinder. To facilitate removal of container 10 from cylinder 24perforations 34 are provided about cylinder 24 so that one end of thecylinder may be easily broken off from the remainder of the cylinder andthe container 10 may be slid out of that end and opened to gain accessto the article 12. Other means equivalent to the perforations may beprovided for opening cylinder 24 such as a pull string or a frangibleseam formed in a plastic cylinder.

In the packaging operation the article 12 is placed within container 10which is then fitted together about seam 18. Both ends of cylinder 24are spun inwardly to retain disc 32 between flanges 26 and 30. Container10 is then forced into the cylinder 24 so that part 16 engages disc 32and projections 28 slide past flange 26.

The placing of container 10 within cylinder 24 is facili-' tated by therounded end 36 of cylinder 24 formed when the end is spun inwardly andby the inherent flexibility of the spiral wrapped cylinder. Projections28 may also be disposed at an angle to further facilitate the insertionof container 10 into cylinder 24.

Thus, it can be seen that the package of the present invention requiresconsiderably more effort to remove the article from the package thanrequired of thedevices heretofore provided; however, it is not thatdifficult so as to be unattractive to the consumer. Once the perforatedseam 34 is broken the cylinder cannot be placed back together and'adefinite indication of tampering is provided so that a subsequentcustomer will not purchase an empty container. The present inventionalso provides a less expensive package because the plastic snap fitbottom is no longer required and only a thin circular cardboarddisc isneeded to close off the bottom of the cylinder.

What is claimed is:

l. A package for an article, comprising: a hollow cylindrical memberhaving first and second ends, said second end having asolid bottomentirely closing the second end;

a hollow egg-shaped container, for the article, formed from two fittedparts, said container having one end inserted into the first end of thecylinder so that the cylinder surrounds the largest diameter of thecontainer;

means formed adjacent the first end of the cylinder for engaging thecontainer and preventing removal of the container from the first end ofthe cylinder; and

means for fracturing the cylinder and permanently separating one endfrom the remainder of the cylinder, whereby the container may be removedfrom the cylinder to gain access to the article contained within thecontainer.

2. A package as described in claim I, wherein the means for fracturingthe cylinder comprises a perforated seam formed about the cylinder.

3. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow cylindrical member having first and second ends;

a hollow egg-shaped container, for the article, formed from two fittedparts, said container having one end inserted into the first end of thecylinder so that the cylinder surrounds the largest diameter of thecontainer;

means formed adjacent the first end of the cylinder for engaging thecontainer and preventing removal of the container from the first end ofthe cylinder; an inwardly directed flange formed around the second endof the cylinder; a disc retained between the inwardly directed flangeand the container for holding the container within the cylinder; andmeans for fracturing the cylinder and permanently separating one endfrom the remainder of the cylinder, whereby the container may be removedfrom the cylinder to gain access to the article contained within thecontainer. 4. A package as described in claim 3, wherein the cylinder isformed of spirally-wrapped paper and the widest diameter of thecontainer fits snugly into the inside diameter of the cylinder at thefirst end and the means formed adjacent the first end comprises aperipheral flange formed by spinning the said first end inwardly toengage the container and the inwardly directed flange about the secondend is formed by spinning said second end inwardly.

5. A package as described in claim 3, wherein the means for fracturingthe hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.

6. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow member having first and second ends, said second end beingclosed;

a hollow container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts andhaving a dome-shaped top, said container being inserted into the hollowmember so that the membersu'rrounds the largest diameter of thecontainer and the dome-shaped top extends beyond the member;

means formed adjacent the first end of the member for engaging thecontainer and preventing removal of the container from the first end ofthe member; and

means for fracturing the member, whereby the container may be removedfrom the member to gain access to the article contained within thecontainer.

7. A package as described in claim 6, wherein the means for fracturingthe hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.

8. A package for an article, comprising:

a hollow member having first and second ends;

a hollow container, for the article, formed from two fitted parts andhaving a dome-shaped top, said container being inserted into the hollowmember so that the member surrounds the largest diameter of thecontainer and-the dome-shaped top extends beyond the member;

means formed adjacent the first end of the member for engaging thecontainer and preventing removal of the container from the first end ofthe member; an inwardly directed flange formed around the second end ofthe member;

a disc retained between the inwardly directed flange and the containerfor holding the container within the hollow member; and

means for fracturing the member, whereby the con tainer may be removedfrom the member to gain access to the article contained within the con-4 tainer.

9. A package as described in claim 8, wherein the hollow member isformed of spirally wrapped paper and the widest diameter of thecontainer fits snugly into the inside diameter of the hollow member atthe first end and the means formed adjacent the first end comprises aperipheral flange formed by spinning the said first end inwardly toengage the container and the inwardly directed flange about the secondend is formed by spinning said second end inwardly.

10. A package as described in claim 8, wherein the means for fracturingthe hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.

IF II!

1. A package for an article, comprising: a hollow cylindrical memberhaving first and second ends, said second end having a solid bottomentirely closing the second end; a hollow egg-shaped container, for thearticle, formed from two fitted parts, said container having one endinserted into the first end of the cylinder so that the cylindersurrounds the largest diameter of the container; means formed adjacentthe first end of the cylinder for engaging the container and preventingremoval of the container from the first end of the cylinder; and meansfor fracturing the cylinder and permanently separating one end from theremainder of the cylinder, whereby the container may be removed from thecylinder to gain access to the article contained within the container.2. A package as described in claim 1, wherein the means for fracturingthe cylinder comprises a perforated seam formed about the cylinder.
 3. Apackage for an article, comprising: a hollow cylindrical member havingfirst and second ends; a hollow egg-shaped container, for the article,formed from two fitted parts, said container having one end insertedinto the first end of the cylinder so that the cylinder surrounds thelargest diameter of the container; means formed adjacent the first endof the cylinder for engaging the container and preventing removal of thecontainer from the first end of the cylinder; an inwardly directedflange formed around the second end of the cylinder; a disc retainedbetween the inwardly directed flange and the container for holding thecontainer within the cylinder; and means for fracturing the cylinder andpermanently separating one end from the remainder of the cylinder,whereby the container may be removed from the cylinder to gain access tothe article contained within the container.
 4. A package as described inclaim 3, wherein the cylinder is formed of spirally-wrapped paper andthe widest diameter of the container fits snugly into the insidediameter of the cylinder at the first end and the means formed adjacentthe first end comprises a peripheral flange formed by spinning the saidfirst end inwardly to engage the container and the inwardly directedflange about the second end is formed by spinning said second endinwardly.
 5. A package as described in claim 3, wherein the means forfracturing the hollow member comprises a perforated seam formed aboutthe member.
 6. A package for an article, comprising: a hollow memberhaving first and second ends, said second end being closed; a hollowcontainer, for the article, formed from two fitted parts and having adome-shaped top, said container being inserted into the hollow member sothat the member surrounds the largest diameter of the container and thedome-shaped top extends beyond the member; means formed adjacent thefirst end of the member for engaging the container and preventingremoval of the container from the first end of the member; and means forfracturing the member, whereby the container may be removed from themember to gain access to the article contained within the container. 7.A package as described in claim 6, wherein the means for fracturing thehollow member comprises a perforated seam formed about the member.
 8. Apackage for an article, comprising: a hollow member having first andsecond ends; a hollow container, for the article, formed from two fittedparts and having a dome-shaped top, said container being inserted intothe hollow member so that the member surrounds the largest diameter ofthe container and the dome-shaped top extends beyond the member; meansformed adjacent the first end of the member for engaging the containerand preventing removal of the container from the first end of themember; an inwardly directed flange formed around the second end of themember; a disc retained between the inwardly directed flange and thecontainer for holding the container within the hollow member; and meansfor fracturing the member, whereby the container may be removed from themember to gain access to the article contained within the container. 9.A package as described in claim 8, wherein the hollow member is formedof spirally wrapped paper and the widest diameter of the container fitssnugly into the inside diameter of the hollow member at the first endand the means formed adjacent the first end comprises a peripheralflange formed by spinning the said first end inwardly to engage thecontainer and the inwardly directed flange about the second end isformed by spinning said second end inwardly.
 10. A package as describedin claim 8, wherein the means for fracturing the hollow member comprisesa perforated seam formed about the member.